Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) - Naval Cruise Book

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UNREP Underway replenishment at sea is one of the most im- portant points of a deploy- ment. During HARPERS FERRY ' S six months at sea. she traveled over 10,000 miles, visited three conti- nents and seven different countries. With all of that traveling, one thing that was absolutelv crucial was fuel. H. RPERS FERRY aver- aged one UNREP e c r y other week for the duration of the cruise. She re-fueled at night, early in the morning, in clear, beautiful weather and horrible pouring rain. While the Captain had ul- timate control over ail deci- sions made while refueling. one of the most important tasks for the exercise was that of Conning Officer. On deployment, the Captain al- lowed several Chiefs and 1st Class Petty Officers to take the conn, as well as the CO Troops. Capt. Brown. Con- sidering that this was a task usually reserved for naval line officers, this was quite a breakthrough. But Refueling at Sea (RAS), like every other major evolution, was an all-hands operation. Right-HARPERS FERRY in the midsl o a peaceful RAS. ot all were this calm. Left-Man y times while HARPERS FERRY went through UNREP. our Am- phibious Task Group flag- ship. USS ESSEX, would re- fuel on the opposite side. fcfl-. s the picture shows, when the UN- REP ship refueled both ESSEX and HARPERS FERRY. It was very close quarters for thou- sands of men. Right-Here, members of ?rd Division haul the distance line, which allowed the Captain and the Con- ning OITicer to see how close the UN- REP ship was. I6.UNREP

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Un-lXM jnJ VW njir . t nc Lci: :• .i .--«» ihcir tum lor aixtrss to ihc as the shr,- Vlj »d i ci-i durwf the ix mp r- c« »cf A ■. ■ , cjtcii hjckU iJ lo (he ship M- lurbuhtit dM i)» in t I ' -ifcr M x in K ' unsK Amphibious Operations 15

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VERTREP I Kighi-Punnfi an all l•l c-Hj(i i your dm hnci ' respite Imni hcjj ' J ' his nun h.ij the rijfurs ol ' thc i n c o f I h e m o s I norking part . JOS slrcsslul MRIRhP Ross Uvks • ? f. j johs. t ' ppy place While L ' Nkl.l ' l)puall iriM)lvcd only refueling. VI KIKI.I ' waN a major c o- lulioii whcrcb Ihc ship re- ceived eiuirnious quantities of supplies, niLluJirig food, mail, hazardous materials and other miscellaneous sup- plies. A vertical replenishment simply means that the sup- plies are brought on by heli- copter Hut there is nothing simple about it VF.RTRliFs last as long as su or seven hours, depending on the amount ol pallets being re- ceived, and lor that entire Led- A helo coming in »ii i yel another pallet The pilot would hoter masterlully. gen- tly setting Jo »n loaJi that ol- ten held eggs and glass. Right-Once the pallet w js down, the next Hep »ji for the flight Quarters crew to clear the goinls j» j Irom the (light deck liiiic, hhM uI the i.rc» muu «lay al alert The Flight Quarters crc i» in a con- stant stale of motion, the Medical f) ' cct all incom ri, usually, a., i 4, .. i i ' .ioM have to muster to put the fcMHl av ay These working parties v cre never much fun and altkays seemed tu take place in the middle of (he night Still, v hen all v as said and done. VFRTRhP brought us food, mail and soda, and was welcome VERTREP. I